April Meeting Minutes 2025

Hello Everyone,

PRESENT:

Ryan, Mike, Dawn, Sharon, Jan, Sue.

TALKING STICK PROGRESS:

     We are working on the book. All chosen submissions have been given to Tarah and she has already sent them to Sharon in Word Docs to start the first round of proofing. Dawn sent us some photos for a possible cover.

     We have sent out some of the “No” letters and Sharon is working on the “Yes” letters and the contracts. We are holding out the ones that went to the judges until we hear back on the winners.

WRITING EVENTS:

     Sharon sent in her poem “Sweet Rockets” to the Lake Country Journal poetry contest.

     The Hackensack Book and Art event will be held on August 9. We will need a couple of us to help that day.

     Our book release party for Talking Stick 34 will be on Saturday, September 20.

     Mike attended the April PRLAAC meeting in Park Rapids. They discussed the summer activities such as sculptures, Open Mike, concerts, and the playwrighting workshop. Business has been slow in downtown Park Rapids.

     Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference June 23-28, 2025 at Bemidji State University. www.northwoodswriters.org for more information.

     Someone mentioned that the Northern Loon will have a display of art and writing. We need to get more information on this.

     Ryan is working on his next young adult book and read us a part of a chapter. He should be able to attend one more monthly meeting and then he will be busy with resort work for the summer.

     Sue is working on a young adult book and read us part of a chapter.

     Mary has been traveling a lot and has not been able to join us lately but she hopes to be back with us in June.

     We took turns reading poems or stories that we have been working on. Several of us used our monthly words to create poems. Those words really help us get going on writing and might help us create something we would never have written otherwise.

     As usual, we had a great time reading and critiquing and discussing our writing. Hope to see you all next time!